Retaining apparatus used to prevent bed sheets entanglement during tumble drying

ABSTRACT

An anti-entanglement apparatus that is intended to prevent bed sheet entanglement during machine tumble drying, is provided and includes a hub with at least four radially extended arms attached. The distal end of each arm is permanently attached to a readily releasable holding device. To utilize the apparatus the operable portion of a said holding device is attached to a bed sheet at, or near, the center of one edge. The remaining edges of a said bed sheet are connected to the hub using the same method. The apparatus thereby holds the center of the four bed sheet edges in close proximity to one another during a tumble drying cycle. This arrangement prevents a bed sheet from enveloping other laundry during the drying cycle. No tangles equate to a shorter drying time and reduced power requirements. The end user saves money while producing a smaller carbon foot print.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present invention relates to laundry drying and more specifically tobed sheet tumble drying.

2. Objects and Advantages

The task of machine tumble drying bed sheets is a problem, the sheetsget tangled with each other or with other laundry. The tangles can bedescribed as the envelopment of adjacent laundry by a bed sheet. Theprobability of laundry encapsulation is increased when drying, now thestandard, fitted bottom bed sheets. The drying cycle ends with wetlaundry enveloped by a bed sheet. More time and labor are required bythe homemaker to remove sheets from dryer and shake loose encapsulatedlaundry. The dryer load is then placed back into the machine and anadditional drying cycle is started. The extra drying cycle wastes timeand money.

Extra drying cycles also have a negative impact on the environment do tothe additional electricity or natural gas consumed. The apparatusdisclosed eliminates tangles. The apparatus saves time and money whilehelping the environment. The apparatus is simple to operate andinexpensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY

An objective of the present invention is to provide a readily removableapparatus to grasp and hold a point at or near the center of each of thefour edges on a bed sheet and to hold those points in close proximity toone another during a machine tumble drying cycle. To achieve thisobjective several separate embodiments, of a retaining apparatus,consisting of a hub with at least four radially extending arms ending ina holding device, will be disclosed.

DRAWING—FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a top view of the first embodiment, showing a sheet's edgesfolded into its center and having the mid section of each edge attachedto an elastic cord assembly.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the elastic cord arm and hub assembly used inthe first embodiment FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a cross section view of a hollow perforated ball insertenveloped by a sheet and held in place by the elastic cord.

FIG. 4 is a front and top view of the perforated ball insert.

FIG. 5 is a front and top view of a hoop to be used as an alternativeinsert in another embodiment

FIG. 6 is a front and top view of a perforated disc to be used as analternative insert in another embodiment

FIG. 7 is a front and top view of concentric hoops attached at 90degrees to each other to be used as a alternative insert in anotherembodiment

FIG. 8 is a front view of a modified arm to be used as a alternative inanother embodiment

FIG. 9 is a front view of an arm to be used in another embodiment

FIG. 10 is a front view of an arm to be used in another embodiment

FIG. 11 is a front view of an arm to be used in another embodiment

FIG. 12 is a front view of a sheet modification to be used in anotherembodiment in conjunction with FIG. 11

FIG. 13 is a front view of an arm to be used in another embodiment

FIG. 14 is a front view of a sheet modification to be used in anotherembodiment in conjunction with FIG. 13

DRAWING - Reference Numbers 20 elastic round cord, flexible 21 hollowperforated ball insert material 22 heat-shrink tubing 23 hoop insert 24perforated disc insert 25 concentric hoops at 90 degrees insert 26generic cord, flexible material 27 plastic cord lock 28 flat polyesterelastic, 29 holding clip flexible material 30 garter assembly 31 plastictoggle clasp 32 eyelet 33 plastic button 34 button hole S bed sheet

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The first embodiment of the device, at present, I believe operates themost efficiently but other embodiments are also satisfactory. Referringnow to the drawings. The first embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2,3 and 4 thereof. Referring to FIG. 1 which shows a top view of the bedsheet S with four edges folded into its center. The elastic cord armsand hub assembly FIG. 2 is shown with the elastic cord 20, loop end,holding a golf ball sized hollow perforated ball 21, which isencapsulated in sheet S, as depicted in the cross section view in FIG.3. Referring to FIG. 2 which shows a top view of the four elastic cords20 having one end of each cord joined together with heat-shrink tubing22 forming a hub with four radially extending arms. The distal end ofeach arm is shaped into a loop and held in place with heat-shrinktubing. Referring to FIG. 3 which is a section view showing the ball 21encapsulated in sheet S and the elastic cord 20 acting as a holdingcollar.

Operation

With respect to the manner of usage of this first embodiment FIG. 1, 2,3 and 4. The ball 21 is placed near the middle of one sheet edge. Thesheet S is drawn over the ball and held in place by stretching the loopend of the elastic cord arm 20 over the sheet encapsulating the ball andthen allowing the stretched elastic loop to contract and form aretaining collar as shown in the cross section view FIG. 3. This actionwill connect the sheet to the elastic cord and thereby to the hubassembly as shown in FIG. 2. The retaining process is completed byrepeating the afore stated procedure on the remaining three edges of thesheet. The center of each edge will now be held in close proximity toone another by the retaining apparatus.

Description of Alternative Embodiment

A first alternative embodiment of the present invention is amodification of the first embodiment. The modification involves only thereplacement of the perforated ball insert 21 with any of three similarsized inserts. The replacement inserts are shown in FIG. 5 hoop insert23, FIG. 6 perforated disc insert 24 and FIG. 7 concentric hoops at 90degrees insert 25. The descriptive and operational scenarios for thisembodiment are identical to the first embodiment except for the ballinserts 21 being replaced by any of the three inserts introduced in thismodification.

Description of Another Alternative Embodiment

The next alternative embodiment of the present invention is anothermodification of the first embodiment. The modification calls for thereplacement of the flexible elastic cord arm 20 in the first embodimentwith the arm assembly FIG. 8 showing a flexible generic cord 26 with aloop being held in place by the generic plastic cord lock 27. In thismodified operation of the first embodiment the ball is held in place,after the sheet is drawn over it, by placing the cord 26 loop end overthe sheet encapsulate ball 21. The cord lock 27 is disengaged and thecord is hand tightened to form a retaining collar, and the cord lock isthen engaged. The retaining is completed, as in the first embodiment, byrepeating the afore stated procedure on the remaining three edges of thesheet.

Description of Another Alternative Embodiment

The next alternative embodiment generally depicted in FIG. 9 a frontview of an arm assembly.

In this embodiment four of the flat polyester elastic flexible materialarms 28 are sewn together at one end to form a hub with four radiallyextending arms. The distal end of each arm is permanently attached to aholding clip 29

Operation

With respect to the manner of usage of this embodiment FIG. 9 of theinvention. One holding clip 29 is attached to the sheet S near thecenter of one edge. The retaining of all the edges is completed byrepeating the afore stated procedure with the three remaining holdingclips on the other three sheet edges. The center of each edge will nowbe held in close proximity to one another.

Description of Another Alternative Embodiment

The next alternative embodiment generally depicted in FIG. 10 of theinvention, is a front view of a garter assembly. In this embodiment fourgarters 30 are sewn together, at the end opposite the fastening element,to form a hub with four radially extending arms. The distal end of eacharm is connected to the fastening element.

Operation

With respect to the manner of usage of the embodiment FIG. 10 of theinvention, the fastening element on one of the garters 30 is attached tothe sheet S near the center of one edge. The retaining of all the edgesis completed by repeating the afore stated procedure with the threeremaining garters on the remaining three sheet edges. The center of eachedge will now be held in close proximity to one another.

Description of Another Alternative Embodiment

The next alternative embodiment of the invention generally depicted inthe arm assembly FIG. 11 and the sheet modification FIG. 12. In thisembodiment one end of generic cord 26 is joined to three other similararm ends with heat-shrink tubing 22 to form a hub with four radiallyextending arms. The distal end of each arm is permanently attached to atoggle clasp 31. The sheet S is modified by installing four eyelets 32in it. One eyelet 32 installed near the center of each edge.

Operation

With respect to the manner of the usage of FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 of theinvention.

The plastic toggle clamp 31, located at the end of one arm, is insertedthrough the eyelet 32 located in one sheet edge. The retaining of allthe edges is completed by inserting the other three toggle clamps 31through the remaining eyelets 32. The center of each edge will now beheld in close proximity to one another.

Description of Another Alternative Embodiment

The next alternative embodiment of the invention generally depicted inarm assembly FIG. 13 and the sheet modification FIG. 14. In thisembodiment one end of generic cord 26 is joined to three other similararm ends with heat-shrink tubing 22 to form a hub with four radiallyextending arms. The distal end of each arm is permanently attached to aplastic button 33. The sheet S is modified by making four button holes34 in it. One button hole 34 is made near the center of each edge.

Operation

With respect to the manner of the usage of FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 of theinvention. The plastic button 33 located at the end of one arm isinserted through the button hole 34 in one sheet edge. The retaining ofthe remaining edges is completed by inserting the other three buttonsthrough the remaining button holes. The center of each edge will now beheld in close proximity to one another.

Conclusion, Ramifications, Scope

The present invention is designed to hold a bed sheet's edges in closeproximity to one another during tumble drying, making the bed sheetreact as if it had a continuous surface, thereby repelling the intrusionand envelopment of other laundry in the same dryer load. The apparatusin these embodiments is inexpensive and easy to install and to storewhen not in use.

Although there are several descriptions contained in the statedembodiments, these should not be constructed as limiting the scope ofthe invention but merely providing illustrations of some of thepresently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, theflexible material arms may vary in design and material. The method ofattachment to the sheet also could vary. Thus the scope of the inventionshould be determined by the claims and their legal equivalents ratherthan by the examples, that were given.

1. A readily removable apparatus for retaining a point on each edge of abed sheet and holding these points in close proximity to one anotherduring the tumble drying of a said bed sheet comprising: a centralsupport member made from a material that can be manufactured to the sizeand shape required at least four means of attachment to a said bed sheetedge either as an integral part or permanently attached to a saidsupport member
 2. the apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said atleast four short lengths of material are joined at one end to form a hubwith radially extending arms further including at the distal ends ofsaid arms a readily releasable means for retaining the edge of a bedsheet